Antenna device and reading system

ABSTRACT

An antenna device of a reading apparatus configured to read a wireless tag includes a housing, an antenna element bent and extending in first and second directions within the housing, a first conductor that covers a bottom surface of the antenna element, and a second conductor that covers one or more of side surfaces of the antenna element on a major angle side thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2018-022792, filed on Feb. 13, 2018, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to an antenna device and areading system.

BACKGROUND

In the related art, there is known a wireless tag reading apparatus thatreads and writes information from and into a wireless tag, such as aradio frequency identification (RFID) tag, an electronic tag, and atransponder.

For example, the wireless tag is embedded in a portable article, such asa card and a smartphone. When such an article is held over an antenna ofthe reading apparatus, a connection is established and information isexchanged therebetween.

However, since a human hand is a dielectric, when the hand is broughtclose to the antenna, the radiation of the radio waves from the readeris hindered, which results in failure of connection. Thus, a techniqueof reducing such deterioration is desired.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a reading system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an antenna.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a direction of a currentflowing through a first antenna element and a second antenna element.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing an example of a reading area formed bythe antenna.

FIG. 5 is a left side view showing an example of a reading area formedby the antenna.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configurationof a POS terminal.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configurationof a code symbol reading apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configurationof a wireless tag reading apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configurationof a wireless tag.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of a functionalconfiguration of each apparatus included in the reading system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more embodiments provide an antenna device and a reading systemcapable of reducing deterioration of radiation characteristics of radiowaves.

According to one embodiment, there is provided an antenna device of areading apparatus configured to read a wireless tag. The antenna deviceincludes a housing, an antenna element bent and extending in first andsecond directions within the housing, a first conductor that covers abottom surface of the antenna element, and a second conductor thatcovers one or more of side surfaces of the antenna element on a majorangle side thereof.

Embodiments of an antenna device and a reading system will be describedin detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Theembodiments to be described below are directed to the antenna device andthe reading system but are not limited to the described configuration,specifications, and the like thereof. The antenna and the reading systemof one of the embodiments are applied to a point of sales (POS) terminalconnected to an antenna that transmits and receives radio waves to andfrom a wireless tag at a store such as a supermarket and the like.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a reading system 1 according to the presentembodiment. The reading system 1 includes a POS terminal 10, a codesymbol reading apparatus 20, and a wireless tag reading apparatus 30.The POS terminal 10 is communicably connected to the code symbol readingapparatus 20 and the wireless tag reading apparatus 30. The readingsystem 1 reads a code symbol 41 included in an article 4 or a wirelesstag 42 included in an article 4 by each apparatus.

The POS terminal 10 is an information processing apparatus that executessales registration for registering commodities to be sold and checkoutprocessing of commodities registered through sales registration. Inaddition, the POS terminal 10 requests the code symbol reading apparatus20 and the wireless tag reading apparatus 30 to execute readingprocessing of a reading target. Then, the POS terminal 10 receives theexecution result of the reading processing from the code symbol readingapparatus 20 and the wireless tag reading apparatus 30.

The code symbol reading apparatus 20 is a reading apparatus that readsthe code symbol 41 such as a bar code, a two-dimensional code, and thelike. The code symbol reading apparatus 20 reads the code symbol 41 withreflected light by, for example, radiating a laser beam. The code symbolreading apparatus 20 executes reading processing when receiving arequest to execute reading processing from the POS terminal 10. Then,the code symbol reading apparatus 20 transmits the reading result by thereading processing to the POS terminal 10.

The wireless tag reading apparatus 30 is a reading apparatus thatexecutes reading and writing of various kinds of information to and fromthe wireless tag 42 by executing wireless communication with thewireless tag 42 called a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, anelectronic tag, or a responder. When the wireless tag reading apparatus30 receives a request to execute the reading processing from the POSterminal 10, the wireless tag reading apparatus 30 transmits a radiowave for reading the wireless tag 42. In addition, the wireless tagreading apparatus 30 receives various kinds of information stored in thewireless tag 42 from the wireless tag 42. In this manner, the wirelesstag reading apparatus 30 executes the reading processing. Then, thewireless tag reading apparatus 30 transmits the reading result by thereading processing to the POS terminal 10.

Next, an antenna 31 of the wireless tag reading apparatus 30 will bedescribed. Here, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of theantenna 31.

The antenna 31 includes a rectangular housing 311 having a hollowportion 312. In the hollow portion 312, the code symbol readingapparatus 20 is disposed. The code symbol reading apparatus 20 radiatesa laser beam for reading the code symbol 41, for example, toward thefront surface or the left side surface in FIG. 2. In addition, thehollow portion 312 shown in FIG. 2 has a rectangular shape, but may havea circular shape or may have a shape conformed to the shape of the codesymbol reading apparatus 20.

The antenna 31 includes an antenna element 313 branching into twodirections inside the housing 311. The antenna element 313 is, forexample, a substrate antenna formed on a substrate. Hereinafter, theantenna element 313 extending in an X direction shown in FIG. 2 will bereferred to as a first antenna element 314. In addition, the antennaelement 313 extending in a Y direction shown in FIG. 2 is referred to asa second antenna element 315.

In the present embodiment, the wireless tag reading apparatus 30 isdisposed on the right front side of an operator as seen from theoperator holding the wireless tag 42. Then, the operator holds thewireless tag 42 in his or her right hand and holds the wireless tag 42over the antenna 31 from above. In this case, the operator holds thewireless tag 42 from the direction of the front side or the left side ofthe housing 311. Therefore, the wireless tag reading apparatus 30 readsthe wireless tag 42 possessed by the hand entering from the direction ofthe front side or the left side of the housing 311.

Next, the antenna element 313 will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a direction of a currentflowing through the first antenna element 314 and the second antennaelement 315. FIG. 4 is a front view for showing an example of a readingarea formed by the antenna 31. FIG. 5 is a left side view showing anexample of a reading area formed by the antenna 31.

The first antenna element 314 has a rectangular shape extending in the Xdirection. The second antenna element 315 has a rectangular shapeextending in the Y direction. The first antenna element 314 and thesecond antenna element 315 form a conjugate angle at the ends of theantenna elements. More specifically, the first antenna element 314 andthe second antenna element 315 are disposed so that the angle formed bythe first and second antenna elements is a substantially right angle.

The bottom surface of the antenna element 313 is covered with a bottomsurface conductor portion 316. In addition, in the antenna element 313,a part of the side surface of the antenna element 313 is covered with aside surface conductor portion 317. More specifically, among the commonangles formed by the first antenna element 314 and the second antennaelement 315, the side surface on the major angle side (i.e., side of theantenna element 313 where the angle formed by the first antenna element314 and the second antenna element 315 is greater than 180 degrees) iscovered with the side surface conductor portion 317. The bottom surfaceconductor portion 316 and the side surface conductor portion 317 areformed of a conductor such as a metal.

A high-frequency signal current flows through the first antenna element314 in the X direction, that is, in the longitudinal direction of thefirst antenna element 314. Therefore, the first antenna element 314radiates a linearly polarized wave in a direction orthogonal to thedirection in which the high-frequency signal current flows, that is, inthe Y direction. In addition, a high-frequency signal current flowsthrough the second antenna element 315 in the Y direction, that is, inthe longitudinal direction of the second antenna element 315. Therefore,the second antenna element 315 radiates a linearly polarized wave in adirection orthogonal to the direction in which the high-frequency signalcurrent flows, that is, in the Y direction. That is, the first antennaelement 314 and the second antenna element 315 radiate radio waves witha phase difference of 90 degrees.

In addition, the bottom surface of the antenna element 313 is coveredwith the bottom surface conductor portion 316, and the side surface onthe major angle side is covered with the side surface conductor portion317. The bottom surface conductor portion 316 and the side surfaceconductor portion 317 reflect radio waves radiated from the antennaelement 313 so that radiation of radio waves in the direction of thebottom surface side and the direction of the major angle side is reducedand radio waves are strengthened in the upward and inferior sidedirection. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the first antenna element314 radiates radio waves in the upward and inferior angle side directionto form a reading area of the wireless tag 42. Similarly, as shown inFIG. 5, the second antenna element 315 radiates radio waves in theupward and inferior angle side direction to forma reading area of thewireless tag 42. That is, the antenna element 313 may form a readingarea in an area where the wireless tag 42 is supposed to be held.

Here, when linearly polarized waves are radiated from one direction,depending on the orientation of the antenna 421 (see FIG. 9) of thewireless tag 42, the wireless tag 42 may not communicate. However, thefirst antenna element 314 and the second antenna element 315 radiatelinearly polarized waves so that the waves are substantially orthogonalto each other. Therefore, the first antenna element 314 and the secondantenna element 315 may improve the communication accuracy.

In addition, the code symbol reading apparatus 20 is disposed in thehollow portion 312. That is, the code symbol reading apparatus 20 isdisposed inside the vertex formed by the first antenna element 314 andthe second antenna element 315. Then, the code symbol reading apparatus20 radiates the laser light for reading the code symbol 41 toward thefront surface, the left side surface, or the like in FIG. 2. Inaddition, the antenna element 313 forms a reading area in the areasshown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Therefore, since the reading area of the codesymbol reading apparatus 20 and the reading area of the wireless tagreading apparatus 30 are overlapped, both the apparatuses may executereading processing by holding the article 4 once.

Next, the hardware configuration of each apparatus included in thereading system 1 will be described.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configurationof the POS terminal 10. The POS terminal 10 includes a control unit 101,a storage unit 102, a communication interface 103, a first connectioninterface 104, a second connection interface 105, a keyboard 106, afirst display unit 107, a second display unit 108, a printing unit 109,and a card reader/writer 110.

The control unit 101 is a computer that controls the overall operationof the POS terminal 10 and performs various functions of the POSterminal 10. The control unit 101 includes a central processing unit(CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM). TheCPU comprehensively controls the operation of the POS terminal 10. TheROM is a storage medium that stores various programs and data. The RAMis a storage medium that temporarily stores various programs and variousdata. Then, the CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storageunit 102 or the like with the RAM as a work area.

The storage unit 102 is a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD)or a solid state drive (SSD). The storage unit 102 stores a controlprogram 111. The control program 111 is a program for causing theoperating system or the functions of the POS terminal 10 to be executed.The control program 111 includes a program for exercising thecharacteristic functions according to the present embodiment.

The communication interface 103 is an interface for communicating withvarious apparatus connected to the network.

The first connection interface 104 is an interface for communicatingwith the code symbol reading apparatus 20. The second connectioninterface 105 is an interface for communicating with the wireless tagreading apparatus 30.

The keyboard 106 includes various keys for operating the POS terminal10.

The first display unit 107 is a liquid crystal display device or thelike having a touch panel stacked on a display surface. For example, thefirst display unit 107 displays various screens to a clerk of the store.The second display unit 108 is a liquid crystal display apparatus or thelike in which a touch panel is stacked on the display surface. Forexample, the second display unit 108 displays various screens forcustomers.

The printing unit 109 is a printer that prints a receipt or the likeshowing transaction details, point status, and the like on paper. Thecard reader/writer 110 is an apparatus that reads and writes informationstored in a storage medium such as a magnetic material attached to acard.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configurationof the code symbol reading apparatus 20. The code symbol readingapparatus 20 includes a control unit 201, a connection interface 202,and a scanner 203.

The control unit 201 is a computer that controls the overall operationof the code symbol reading apparatus 20 and performs various functionsof the code symbol reading apparatus 20. The control unit 201 includes aCPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU comprehensively controls the operation ofthe code symbol reading apparatus 20. The ROM is a storage medium thatstores various programs and data. The RAM is a storage medium thattemporarily stores various programs and various data. Then, the CPUexecutes a program stored in a storage medium such as a ROM with the RAMas a work area.

The connection interface 202 is an interface for communicating with thePOS terminal 10.

The scanner 203 radiates light and receives the reflected light. As aresult, the scanner 203 reads the code symbol 41 or the like.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configurationof the wireless tag reading apparatus 30. The wireless tag readingapparatus 30 includes a control circuit 301, a connection interface 302,a transmission circuit 303, a reception circuit 304, and an antenna 31.Further, the antenna 31 includes a first antenna element 314, a secondantenna element 315, and a branching circuit 319.

The control circuit 301 is a computer that controls the overalloperation of the wireless tag reading apparatus 30 and performs variousfunctions of the wireless tag reading apparatus 30. The control circuit301 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU comprehensively controlsthe operation of the wireless tag reading apparatus 30. The ROM is astorage medium that stores various programs and data. The RAM is astorage medium that temporarily stores various programs and variousdata. Then, the CPU executes a program stored in a storage medium suchas a ROM with the RAM as a work area.

The connection interface 302 is an interface for communicating with thePOS terminal 10.

The transmission circuit 303 includes an encoding circuit, a modulationcircuit, a filter circuit, and an amplifier circuit. The transmissioncircuit 303 converts the digital signals output from the control circuitby these circuits into high-frequency analog signals. Then, thetransmission circuit 303 outputs a high-frequency analog signal.

The reception circuit 304 includes a demodulation circuit, a filtercircuit, and a decoding circuit. The reception circuit 304 convertshigh-frequency analog signals output from the first antenna element 314or the second antenna element 315 by these circuits into digitalsignals. Then, the reception circuit 304 outputs digital signals.

The branching circuit 319 is an electronic circuit that outputs ahigh-frequency analog signal in each direction branched into twodirections, that is, the first antenna element 314 and the secondantenna element 315. More specifically, the branching circuit 319outputs the high-frequency analog signal input from the transmissioncircuit 303 to the first antenna element 314 and the second antennaelement 315. In addition, the branching circuit 319 outputs thehigh-frequency analog signal input from the first antenna element 314and the second antenna element 315 to the reception circuit 304.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configurationof the wireless tag 42. The wireless tag 42 includes an antenna 421, atransmission/reception circuit 422, and a storage unit 423.

The antenna 421 transmits and receives radio waves and the like.

The transmission/reception circuit 422 generates electric power byelectromagnetic induction or the like by using radio waves received bythe antenna 421. Then, the transmission/reception circuit 422 executesreading processing and writing processing by using the generated power.

In addition, when the antenna 421 receives a radio wave for reading theinformation stored in the wireless tag 42, the transmission/receptioncircuit 422 causes the information of the storage unit 423 to betransmitted to the antenna 421. When the antenna 421 receives a radiowave for writing information to the wireless tag 42, thetransmission/reception circuit 422 writes the information included inthe received radio wave into the storage unit 423.

The storage unit 423 is a nonvolatile rewritable storage medium that maystore information even when power is not supplied. The storage unit 423stores, for example, an identification code identifying the wireless tag42. The storage unit 423 may store any information instead of or inaddition to the identification code.

Next, the functions of the respective apparatuses included in thereading system 1 will be described. Here, FIG. 10 is a block diagramshowing an example of the functional configuration of each apparatus ofthe reading system 1.

The control unit 101 of the POS terminal 10 loads the control program111 stored in the storage unit 102 onto the RAM and operates accordingto the control program 111 to generate respective functional units shownin FIG. 10 on the RAM. Specifically, the control unit 101 of the POSterminal 10 includes a connection control unit 1001, a commodityregistration unit 1002, a checkout processing unit 1003, a readingmanagement unit 1004, and an output control unit 1005 as functionalunits.

The connection control unit 1001 controls the first connection interface104 to execute communication with the code symbol reading apparatus 20.In addition, the connection control unit 1001 controls the secondconnection interface 105 to execute communication with the wireless tagreading apparatus 30.

The commodity registration unit 1002 controls sales registration ofcommodities to be sold. When a commodity code identifying a commodity isinput, the commodity registration unit 1002 registers the commodityspecified by the commodity code.

The checkout processing unit 1003 controls the checkout processing ofthe commodities registered by the commodity registration unit 1002. Forexample, the checkout processing unit 1003 calculates the total price ofcommodities registered by the commodity registration unit 1002. Inaddition, the checkout processing unit 1003 calculates the change bysubtracting the total price from the amount received from a customer.

The reading management unit 1004 controls reading processing by the codesymbol reading apparatus 20 and the wireless tag reading apparatus 30.For example, when receiving an operation or the like to start thereading processing, the reading management unit 1004 causes theconnection control unit 1001 to transmit a read start request forrequesting the start of reading processing. The reading management unit1004 may cause the reading apparatus of both the code symbol readingapparatus 20 and the wireless tag reading apparatus 30 to transmit readstart requests at once or may cause the both the reading apparatuses totransmit a read start request separately. The reading management unit1004 causes the connection control unit 1001 to transmit a read endrequest for requesting the end of the reading processing, for example,in the case of reading an operation of ending the reading processing ora reading result of the reading processing.

In addition, the reading management unit 1004 specifies the article 4held over by using the reading result received by the connection controlunit 1001. For example, the reading management unit 1004 specifies thearticle 4 held from the information included in the reading result ofeither one of the reading result of the code symbol reading apparatus 20and the reading result of the wireless tag reading apparatus 30. Inaddition, the reading management unit 1004 may specify the article 4held over on the condition that the same information is included in boththe reading result of the code symbol reading apparatus 20 and thereading result of the wireless tag reading apparatus 30.

In addition, the reading management unit 1004 may specify that thearticle 4 is held over the composite result of the reading result of thecode symbol reading apparatus 20 and the reading result of the wirelesstag reading apparatus 30. For example, when the article 4 to be read isa coupon with time limit, the time limit may be specified by the readingresult of the code symbol reading apparatus 20 and the type of thecoupon may be specified by the reading result of the wireless tagreading apparatus 30.

The output control unit 1005 outputs the reading result. For example,the output control unit 1005 controls the first display unit 107 and thesecond display unit 108 to display and output the reading result. Inaddition, the output control unit 1005 controls the printing unit 109 toprint out the reading result.

The control unit 201 of the code symbol reading apparatus 20 loads theprogram stored in the ROM onto the RAM and operates according to theprogram to generate the respective functional units shown in FIG. 10 onthe RAM. Specifically, the control unit 201 of the code symbol readingapparatus 20 includes a connection control unit 2001 and a readingcontrol unit 2002 as functional units.

The connection control unit 2001 controls the connection interface 202to execute communication with the POS terminal 10.

The reading control unit 2002 controls the scanner 203 to executereading processing. For example, the reading control unit 2002 startsreading processing when the connection control unit 2001 receives a readstart request. When reading the code symbol 41, the reading control unit2002 causes the connection control unit 2001 to transmit the readingresult including the information included in the read code symbol 41.When the connection control unit 2001 receives the read end request, thereading control unit 2002 ends the reading processing.

The control circuit 301 of the wireless tag reading apparatus 30 loadsthe program stored in the ROM onto the RAM and operates according to theprogram to generate the respective functional units shown in FIG. 10 onthe RAM. Specifically, the control circuit 301 of the wireless tagreading apparatus 30 includes a connection control unit 3001 and areading control unit 3002 as functional units.

The connection control unit 3001 controls the connection interface 302to execute communication with the POS terminal 10.

The reading control unit 3002 controls the transmission circuit 303, thereception circuit 304, and the antenna 31 to execute reading processing.For example, the reading control unit 3002 starts reading processingwhen the connection control unit 3001 receives a read start request.

The reading control unit 3002 causes the connection control unit 3001 totransmit the reading result including the read information when thereading processing is ended. When the connection control unit 3001receives the read end request, the reading control unit 3002 ends thereading processing.

As described above, according to the antenna 31 of the wireless tagreading apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment, the antennaelement 313 extends in two directions and includes the first antennaelement 314 and the second antenna element 315. That is, the antennaelement 313 is not disposed in the vicinity where the operator holdingthe wireless tag 42 holds the wireless tag 42. Further, the bottomsurface of the antenna element 313 is covered with the bottom surfaceconductor portion 316 formed of a conductor. In addition, a part of theside surface of the antenna element 313 is covered with the side surfaceconductor portion 317. Therefore, the antenna 31 forms a read areahaving high radio field intensity above the inner sides of the firstantenna element 314 and the second antenna element 315. Therefore, theantenna 31 of the wireless tag reading apparatus 30 according to thepresent embodiment may reduce deterioration of the radiationcharacteristics of radio waves.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the case of the code symbolreading apparatus 20 has been described as an example of the secondreading apparatus. However, the second reading apparatus is not limitedto the code symbol reading apparatus 20, but may be another readingapparatus. For example, the second reading apparatus may be a readingapparatus that reads the wireless tag 42 corresponding to a frequencyband different from that of the wireless tag reading apparatus 30 as thefirst reading apparatus.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the first antenna element 314 andthe second antenna element 315 form a single structure of the antennaelement 313. However, the first antenna element 314 and the secondantenna element 315 may be separate antenna elements.

The programs to be executed by each device of the above embodiment ormodification examples are assumed to be provided by being incorporatedin advance in a storage medium (ROM or storage unit) included in eachdevice, but are not limited thereto. For example, the programs may beconfigured to be recorded and provided in a computer-readable recordingmedium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, a digitalversatile disk (DVD) or the like in a file in an installable format oran executable format. Further, the storage medium is not limited to amedium independent of a computer or an embedded system, but includes astorage medium in which a program transmitted by a LAN, the Internet, orthe like is downloaded and stored or temporarily stored.

In addition, the programs to be executed by each device of the aboveembodiment or modification examples may be stored on a computerconnected to a network such as the Internet and configured to beprovided by being downloaded via the network, and configured to beprovided or distributed via the network as the Internet.

What is claimed is:
 1. An antenna device of a reading apparatusconfigured to read a wireless tag, the device comprising: a rectangularhousing having first, second, third, and fourth sections, the first andthird sections extending in a first direction and second and fourthsections extending in a second direction that crosses the firstdirection; an antenna element that is bent along a length thereof toform a first portion extending in the first direction within the firstsection of the housing and a second portion extending in the seconddirection within the second section of the housing; a first conductorthat covers a bottom surface of the antenna element; and a secondconductor that covers a side surface of each of the first and secondportions.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the antennaelement is bent at a right angle.
 3. The device according to claim 1,further comprising: a branching circuit, wherein the branching circuitis configured to output an analog signal to each of the first and secondportions of the antenna element.
 4. The device according to claim 3,wherein the branching circuit outputs the signal in response to a signaltransmitted from a transmitter of the reading apparatus.
 5. The deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein the branching circuit outputs a signal toa receiver of the reading apparatus when a signal from the wireless tagis received by the antenna element.
 6. The device according to claim 1,wherein the antenna element is a substrate antenna formed on a substratewithin the housing.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein thehousing has an opening partially surrounded by the antenna element. 8.The device according to claim 7, wherein the opening has a rectangularshape.
 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless tag is aradio frequency identification (RFID) tag.
 10. A reading systemcomprising: a first reading apparatus configured to read a symbol codeby using a laser beam; and a second reading apparatus configured to reada wireless tag and comprising: a rectangular housing having first,second, third, and fourth sections, the first and third sectionsextending in a first direction and second and fourth sections extendingin a second direction that crosses the first direction, an antennaelement that is bent along a length thereof to form a first portionextending in the first direction within the first section of the housingand a second portion extending in the second direction within the secondsection of the housing, a first conductor that covers a bottom surfaceof the antenna element, and a second conductor that covers a sidesurface of each of the first and second portions.
 11. The systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the housing of the second readingapparatus has an opening, and the first reading apparatus is located inthe opening.
 12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the antennaelement is bent at a right angle.
 13. The system according to claim 10,wherein the second reading apparatus comprises a branching circuit, andthe branching circuit is configured to output an analog signal to eachof the first and second portions of the antenna element.
 14. The systemaccording to claim 13, wherein the second reading apparatus comprises atransmitter, and the branching circuit outputs the signal in response toa signal transmitted from the transmitter.
 15. The system according toclaim 14, wherein the second reading apparatus comprises a receiver, andthe branching circuit outputs a signal to the receiver when a signalfrom the wireless tag is received by the antenna element.
 16. The systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the antenna element is a substrateantenna formed on a substrate within the housing.
 17. The systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the housing has an opening partiallysurrounded by the antenna element.
 18. The system according to claim 10,wherein the symbol code and the wireless tag are printed and attached toan article sold in a grocery store.